2017 Gala Awards Winners

2017 Business of the Year

The Ray White Surfers Paradise Group

Dominant Gold Coast real estate company The Ray White Surfers Paradise Group has been named as the city's Business of the Year.

The company, which is headed up by brothers Andrew and Greg Bell, received the award at the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards gala dinner attended by 650 of the city's business leaders at The Star on Saturday 25th November.

The company, which launched on the Gold Coast in December 1989, now has 15 offices and employs 270 people across its 24 divisions.

Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards president Ian Cousins said The Ray White Surfers Paradise Group was an outstanding company.

"In its day-to-day operations the company consistently promotes the Gold Coast as a business and residential destination of choice to people throughout Australia and overseas,'' said Mr Cousins.

"They hold annual property related events such as the 'Event Auction' which is Australia's largest single day property event, the Gold Coast Home & Living Expo, and the Landlord Symposium.

"They also do an incredible job of giving back to the community with the company's annual gala ball and charity auction so far having raised more than $3 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association."

The Ray White Surfers Paradise Group was also named as the annual winners of the Professions and Business Services Award.

2017 Annual Category Winners

Emerging Business Award - sponsored by Choice Homes Orbitz Elevators Orbitz Elevators supply, install, maintain, repair and modernise elevators and escalators throughout Australia and overseas. The company was established by Jonathan Dwayre with a credit card, a van and a dream in November 2014. The business now employs 40 people and has branches in branches in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
Family Business Award - sponsored by Optus Business Centre Gold Coast John Henderson Professionals Mermaid Beach John Henderson Professionals Mermaid Beach is a family run business that has been operating for 44 years. Started by John Henderson, it is now run by two of his sons, Andrew and Luke Henderson, who are now considered among the Gold Coast's top 50 most influential people. The business employs 28 people, has annual property sales of more than $130 million and manages more than 500 properties. Six employees are members of the Henderson family.
Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award - sponsored by Westpac Banking Coporation Crema Espresso Crema Espresso Franchising is a franchisor of high quality coffee shops. Crema Espresso was initially set up as a single store in Tedder Avenue, Main Beach in 2005. The first franchise was sold in 2007 and the company now has 18 franchisees. The company is now expanding throughout Australia.
Manufacturing Award - sponsored by Regional Development Australia Gold Coast Digga Australia Digga is Australia's largest manufacturer of mini loaders and machinery attachments for the earthmoving and construction industry. The company manufactures a range of three fully configurable mini loaders and a range of 70 different attachments.  While rebuilding its 12,500sqm factory after a fire in 2016 and operating from five different facilities, Digga still increased production and grew global sales by 17%. Digga now distributes its products through an extensive dealer network in more than 30 countries.
Construction and Trades Award - sponsored by Harvey Norman Commercial Qld Condev Construction Condev Construction is one of the most prominent and prolific construction companies in South East Queensland. The company undertakes projects in the $1m to $45m range. Condev, which was founded in 2002 by Steve and Tracy Marais, now employs more than 137 staff and has 27 different projects under construction. Since 2011, Condev has received nearly 50 construction and business awards, including six awards at this year's Master Builders Awards.
Professions and Business Services Award - sponsored by OntheNet The Ray White Surfers Paradise Group The Ray White Surfers Paradise Group is the Gold Coast leading real estate agency. Launched in 1989, the group now has 24 divisions and 270 staff in 15 offices on the Gold Coast, China and the USA. The company services all aspects of real estate including sales, leasing, property management and new projects. The company also has secondary operations including Marine sales and international sales and management.
Health and Wellbeing Award -  sponsored by Pindara Private Hospital and The Southport Private Hospital Morlife Arundel-based Morlife is a functional foods company that manufactures specialised foods which provide high nutritional value for specific purposes. Morlife products are available online and through major retailers including Woolworths, Coles, Costco, and IGA as well as health food stores. The company, which has 69 employees, exports to Asia, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA. Morlife has been the recipient of numerous awards over recent years, including winners in 5 categories of the 2016 Australian Business Awards.
IT, Knowledge Management and Digital Services Award - sponsored by Griffith University GCOMM GCOMM is a multi-award-winning technology company that specialises in the delivery of broadband networks, cloud and managed IT services to medium businesses and corporations with multiple office locations. Its customers include national and international operations. GCOMM has more than 500 direct customers and 700 indirect customers through wholesale channels. Established in 1996, the company has grown from a small four-person enterprise to a business with more than 40 employees.
Tourism, Hospitality and Events Award - sponsored by Gold Coast Airport Experience Oz Experience Oz has grown from a local, Gold Coast-specific business to become the largest online booking portal in Australia and New Zealand for the tours and activities sector. The 10-year-old Surfers Paradise-based business now has 35 employees and is now expanding to China, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia.
Mayor's Innovation GC Award - sponsored by City of Gold Coast iVvy iVvy Marketplace offers a real-time booking platform for the events industry. The marketplace allows event organisers to compare, book and pay for function spaces, group accommodation and food & beverage in real-time. It allows event planners to find and book a venue in just six minutes, rather than weeks. Founded by Lauren Hall and James Greig in 2009, the company now employs 85 people in three countries.
Encouragement Award - sponsored by Flight Centre Business Travel Patriot Campers Patriot Campers is a manufacturer of camper trailers and modified 4X4 vehicles. Established in 2014, Patriot Campers has enjoyed exponential sales success, exports to USA, Mongolia and Dubai ; and now employs 70 people. The company has won the Australian Camper Trailer of the Year award every year since its inception.